Tena tātou katoa e te iwi mīhana… (Greetings to all the people in mission)

This month’s whakataukī (proverb) is: “Me haere i raro i te kāhu korako”  (travel beneath the pale hawk).

The inference in this proverb is that the best journey is under the hawk of light plumage. This sort of kāhu or swamp harrier hawk is a metaphor for a strong chief or leader. Travelling under the “shadow” of a leader’s mana (authority/aptitude) provided the sojourner with protection, accommodation, and sustenance. It was a reciprocal arrangement, with supply given in return for allegiance and making one’s talents/skills available to the leader and the tribe. In our individualist egalitarian society we too easily forget that that is what the gospel is all about.

I grew up with kāhu flying all around our little country town. Even now, when I travel down the motu (island), my heart soars when a kāhu reluctantly leaves its road-kill feast as I hurtle down the highway towards it. It’s the closest us Kiwis come to visualising the eagle mentioned in Scripture. In worship, with arms raised out, I can only imagine what it is like to soar above the rigours of our sin-affected reality.

We cannot enjoy the benefits without accepting the responsibilities.

“How precious, O God, is your constant love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7 GNT) resonates strongly with the kāhu proverb, as do all the other passages that speak of being hidden or protected under God’s wings. Coming under God’s authority automatically makes God’s love, protection and provision available to us. That is a solid promise throughout Scripture. The reverse, however, is not so promised. We cannot enjoy the benefits without accepting the responsibilities. John 3:15 makes it clear that God’s love is for all the world, but we must remember from that same verse that the full expression of God’s love was the sending of the Son, so that… (you know the rest).

The Most Reverend Bishop Michael Curry’s homily at the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rippled out across the interwebs on May 19 2018. Responses fell into two broad camps. The first reaction was overwhelmingly positive—oh, the wonder of the message of God’s love, exemplified in Christ, being heard by almost 2 billion people. A larger audience than Billy Graham ever managed. Christians rejoice! Then the naysayers began to critique the message and as the theology of the leader of the US American Episcopal Church was made more widely known, evangelicals became less enthusiastic.

The classic theological divide between conservatives and liberals became more and more apparent in the commentary. The 13 minute message was wonderfully affirming that 1) God exists, 2) God is love, 3) love is what the world needs. It fell short, however, from articulating how humans can fully experience the love of God. A fair assumption could be made from the message that we can manifest God’s love simply by loving each other better and “doing good” in the world.

Christ as exemplar is not enough. Christ must become Lord.

Our mission, in this framework therefore, would be to work toward the betterment of humankind. But Christ as exemplar is not enough. Christ must become Lord. While God’s loving favour is offered universally and is unfailing, it is not unconditional. Access to the largess or grace of the Chief is dependant on observing the ethics of the tribe, represented and governed by the Chief. Living under the shadow of the Chief’s wings requires agreeing to the Chief’s ways. Thankfully, under Christ, those ways are good.

As disciples of Chief Jesus, our commission is not to go into all the world with hearts full of compassion to do good. It is to offer the people of the world access to our tribe, which we know as the Kingdom of God. Within those boundaries God’s aroha (grace or loving kindness) is made fully available. Within those boundaries we are responsible, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to abide by the ethics of the tribe and contribute to the tribe. Within those boundaries our love for one another manifests as the shalom of God (Hebrew), and with koinonia in the oikos-communities (Greek) of God’s people dwelling in deep, mutually beneficial relationships with humility and generosity—in unity with no marginality.

This is what it means to travel under the figurative wings of Jesus the Christ/Messiah/Chief/King. This now/not yet reality is not available any other way, try as the world might to achieve it through the sentimentality of good thoughts and social action. At times it seems it might be approximated, but sin will always negatively disrupt attempts. Only when the power of the Holy Spirit enlivens the human spirit by allegiance to Christ can we dwell in the loving shelter of the Most High and rest in God’s shadow.

May the sight of soaring kāhu forever remind us of this and encourage us to pursue Kingdom communities as we #stayonmission.

Ma te Atua e manaaki koutou (may you all experience the very best things from God),

Jay